2 injured Texas football players that should be available vs. Kansas

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT

An injury tidbit that came about this week concerning the best true freshman offensive lineman for the Longhorns this season apparently impacted the play-calling for Sark last weekend in the loss to TCU.

According to a report from Horns247 this week (paid content), true freshman offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was dealing with a hand injury that has limited his ability to be truly effective in run blocking. That was reportedly a major reason why Texas didn’t run behind the left tackle a single time last week.

It’s worth noting that this hand injury apparently didn’t limit Banks nearly as much in pass protection as it did on run plays.

But it sounds like Banks is more healed up and should be more effective in run-blocking this weekend. That could mean more efficient and a higher volume of outside zone run plays for Texas against this vulnerable Kansas run defense in Week 12.

Texas has averaged around 2.5 run plays per game in the direction behind the left tackle. They should be able to get back to that more often this weekend against the Jayhawks with Banks healthier.

While Texas does like to call zone run plays behind right tackle Christian Jones than they do the left tackle Banks this season, both spots are important to sealing up the edge to let the backs get outside when necessary.